I have just received this in an email from Scotrail. If it's like their
offer just before last Christmas it applies to journeys nationwide -
not just on Scotrail.

50% discount off rail travel
Book online between 25 August - 1 September and receive a 50% discount
when you spend £40 or more.
Click here to receive your 50% discount.

http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/emailCampaign/interim1.php


Rail Offer Terms and Conditions

Discounted rail tickets can only be purchased between 25 August -1
September inclusive.
Rail tickets can only be booked using the weblinks shown.
Discounts will only be given on transaction values of £40 or more.
Usual terms and conditions apply to discounted tickets purchased.

Andy Kirkham wrote:

> I have just received this in an email from Scotrail. If it's like their
> offer just before last Christmas it applies to journeys nationwide -
> not just on Scotrail.


I just tried it and it didn't offer me a discount on my journey across
the midlands.  I added an Edinburgh-Aberdeen return to my basket though
and I got the 50% discount on both tickets.

So I guess you just need to add a return from Golf Street to Barry
Links (only £1.10) to get 50% off your First Open Return from
Manchester to Euston!

pete

"naked_draughtsman"  wrote in message 
news:1124973620.707174.219150@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Andy Kirkham wrote:

> I have just received this in an email from Scotrail. If it's like their
> offer just before last Christmas it applies to journeys nationwide -
> not just on Scotrail.


I just tried it and it didn't offer me a discount on my journey across
the midlands.  I added an Edinburgh-Aberdeen return to my basket though
and I got the 50% discount on both tickets.

So I guess you just need to add a return from Golf Street to Barry
Links (only 1.10) to get 50% off your First Open Return from
Manchester to Euston!

Was your midlands journey over 40??

Tim

Tim Rogers wrote:

> Was your midlands journey over £40??
>


Doh!  Each return was about £20.

At least I can buy several tickets to get the total up to £40

In message , at 
02:10:58 on Thu, 25 Aug 2005, Andy Kirkham  
remarked:

>Book online between 25 August - 1 September and receive a 50% discount
>when you spend 40 or more.


Is that "spending" the 40 before or after the 50% discount?
-- 
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry"  wrote in message 
news:wKAH8NPDGeDDFA49@donald.internetpolicynews.co.uk...

> In message , at 
> 02:10:58 on Thu, 25 Aug 2005, Andy Kirkham  
> remarked:
>>Book online between 25 August - 1 September and receive a 50% discount
>>when you spend 40 or more.
>
> Is that "spending" the 40 before or after the 50% discount?


Before the discount

> -- 
> Roland Perry 

"naked_draughtsman"  wrote in message 
news:1124973620.707174.219150@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Andy Kirkham wrote:

> I have just received this in an email from Scotrail. If it's like their
> offer just before last Christmas it applies to journeys nationwide -
> not just on Scotrail.


I just tried it and it didn't offer me a discount on my journey across
the midlands.  I added an Edinburgh-Aberdeen return to my basket though
and I got the 50% discount on both tickets.

So I guess you just need to add a return from Golf Street to Barry
Links (only 1.10) to get 50% off your First Open Return from
Manchester to Euston!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It offered me a Bolton to London Day Return leaving Bolton at 08:04 for 
27:50.

Not bad for someone without a sporran!

KW

50% discount off rail travel
Book online between 25 August - 1 September and receive a 50% discount
when you spend 40 or more.
Click here to receive your 50% discount.

http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/emailCampaign/interim1.php

Excellent, I just purchased a Saver First London - Truro for 84.50 and I 
havn't been north of Manchester for 7 years!!!

"Andy Kirkham"  wrote


>50% discount off rail travel
>Book online between 25 August - 1 September and >receive a 50% discount
>when you spend 40 or more.
>Click here to receive your 50% discount.
>
>http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/emailCampaign/interim1.php


Have First Scotrail scored an own goal, similar to the one SWT scored a few
years back, when they offered free tickets, only to find that they had to
account to the rest of the rail industry for the face value of tickets
issued for travel over other TOCs (less 9% vendor's commission)?

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:57:06 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Masson"
 wrote:


>Have First Scotrail scored an own goal, similar to the one SWT scored a few
>years back, when they offered free tickets, only to find that they had to
>account to the rest of the rail industry for the face value of tickets
>issued for travel over other TOCs (less 9% vendor's commission)?


The SWT ones were SWT-only, and the destination had to be written on
by the user by hand before use, so they'd have no way to account for
them unless collected (which mine wasn't).

If I recall correctly, this is a discount applied by Trainline, and so
the tickets will have the correct, not discounted, face value on them.
I presume, therefore, that fSR will be paying the rest.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

Neil Williams wrote:


> >Have First Scotrail scored an own goal, similar to the one SWT scored a few
> >years back, when they offered free tickets, only to find that they had to
> >account to the rest of the rail industry for the face value of tickets
> >issued for travel over other TOCs (less 9% vendor's commission)?
>
> The SWT ones were SWT-only, and the destination had to be written on
> by the user by hand before use, so they'd have no way to account for
> them unless collected (which mine wasn't).


What about the day in 1996 when SWT gave free travel to anywhere in the
country?  The tickets were printed on normal APTIS machines at the
ticket office and had the normal price on them - you simply didn't have
to pay for them.

>"Andy Kirkham"  wrote in message
>news:1124961058.834557.14750@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I have just received this in an email from Scotrail. If it's like their
>offer just before last Christmas it applies to journeys nationwide -
>not just on Scotrail.

>50% discount off rail travel
>Book online between 25 August - 1 September and receive a 50% discount
>when you spend 40 or more.
>Click here to receive your 50% discount.

>http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/emailCampaign/interim1.php


>Rail Offer Terms and Conditions

>Discounted rail tickets can only be purchased between 25 August -1
>September inclusive.
>Rail tickets can only be booked using the weblinks shown.
>Discounts will only be given on transaction values of 40 or more.
>Usual terms and conditions apply to discounted tickets purchased.




VV the terms and conditions for these tickets.

I take it we can ignore the reservations that the site makes us take for a
saver ticket?

Paul

"Richard Adamfi"  wrote in message
news:1125043803.551136.315830@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> Neil Williams wrote:
>
> > >Have First Scotrail scored an own goal, similar to the one SWT scored a
few
> > >years back, when they offered free tickets, only to find that they had
to
> > >account to the rest of the rail industry for the face value of tickets
> > >issued for travel over other TOCs (less 9% vendor's commission)?
> >
> > The SWT ones were SWT-only, and the destination had to be written on
> > by the user by hand before use, so they'd have no way to account for
> > them unless collected (which mine wasn't).
>
> What about the day in 1996 when SWT gave free travel to anywhere in the
> country?  The tickets were printed on normal APTIS machines at the
> ticket office and had the normal price on them - you simply didn't have
> to pay for them.
>

That's the occasion I was thinking of. Apparently SWT management were
horrified when they got the bill from Railway Settlement.

Peter

Paul Stevenson wrote:

> I take it we can ignore the reservations that the site makes us take for a
> saver ticket?
> 


As always.

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 09:16:56 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Masson"
 wrote:


>That's the occasion I was thinking of. Apparently SWT management were
>horrified when they got the bill from Railway Settlement.


Ah, I wasn't aware of that one.  I was just thinking of the 2002-ish
repeat run, which was SWT only and involved manually-written tickets.

I'm sorted, anyway - a day trip from MK to Edinburgh, out via London
and the ECML and back via the WCML[1] for tomorrow for a piffling 34
quid (you still get the 50% on top of YP discount!).  Should be fun,
with the exception of the early start it'll require...

Only stupid thing is that I got two FastTicket codes for the two
tickets, which is a pain as the machines can only cope with the card
being used once, so the other one will have to come from the ticket
counter.

[1] I had to actually do the ticket to/from Berkhamsted and buy a
single to make the gap up as MK doesn't have any Any P/LONDON tickets
to/from Edinburgh, while Watford (which sets Berkhamsted fares) does.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Neil Williams" wrote


> Only stupid thing is that I got two FastTicket codes for the two
> tickets, which is a pain as the machines can only cope with the card
> being used once, so the other one will have to come from the ticket
> counter.


I know you can only use a credit card once a day to *buy* tickets from a
FastTicket machine, but my understanding was that this restriction did not
apply to the *collect* facility.  Can anyone confirm?

John Salmon wrote:

> "Neil Williams" wrote
>
> > Only stupid thing is that I got two FastTicket codes for the two
> > tickets, which is a pain as the machines can only cope with the card
> > being used once, so the other one will have to come from the ticket
> > counter.
>
> I know you can only use a credit card once a day to *buy* tickets from a
> FastTicket machine, but my understanding was that this restriction did not
> apply to the *collect* facility.  Can anyone confirm?


I have collected two sets of tickets using the same card. I had to
collect the third from the ticket office

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 19:38:05 +0000 (UTC), "John Salmon"
 wrote:


>I know you can only use a credit card once a day to *buy* tickets from a
>FastTicket machine, but my understanding was that this restriction did not
>apply to the *collect* facility.  Can anyone confirm?


It didn't stop me, as it turns out.  What I have definitely had
problems with is using the card for a pickup then buying a further
ticket with it.

Hopefully, once Chip and PIN comes along to these machines, this silly
restriction can be got rid of.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Andy Kirkham"  wrote


>50% discount off rail travel
>Book online between 25 August - 1 September and >receive a 50% discount
>when you spend 40 or more.
>Click here to receive your 50% discount.
>
>http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/emailCampaign/interim1.php


I always said <insert TOC of your choice> should do a "carnet" style of 
ticket where you get, say, 10 single journeys for the price of 9, but they 
never listened. Season tickets are great, unless you travel every weekend 
like I do.

Best just have 10 journeys for the price of 5 then instead.

The OP deserves a medal for sharing that information.

"Neil Williams"  wrote in message 
news:430f845b.352066@news.tesco.net...

> On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 19:38:05 +0000 (UTC), "John Salmon"
>  wrote:
>
>>I know you can only use a credit card once a day to *buy* tickets from a
>>FastTicket machine, but my understanding was that this restriction did not
>>apply to the *collect* facility.  Can anyone confirm?
>
> It didn't stop me, as it turns out.  What I have definitely had
> problems with is using the card for a pickup then buying a further
> ticket with it.
>
> Hopefully, once Chip and PIN comes along to these machines, this silly
> restriction can be got rid of.


This seems to be in the process of happening - the GNER FastTicket machine 
at Darlington has recently received a C&P upgrade.

-- 
*** http://www.railwayscene.co.uk/ ***
Rich Mackin (rich-at-richmackin-co-uk)
MSN: richmackin-at-hotmail-dot-com

Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the 
checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking 
with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and First 
Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a 
clue!!!!!!!!!!

turbo wrote:


> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the 
> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking 
> with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and First 
> Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a 
> clue!!!!!!!!!! 
> 
> 

But at least nobody can say they have too many chiefs and not enough 
Indians ;-)

Charlie

turbo wrote:

> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the 
> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking 
> with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and First 
> Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a 
> clue!!!!!!!!!! 
> 
>


Fine here - except it does choke if you don't make all the tickets in an 
order 'collect from machine' or 'deliver' (as in, you can't mix delivery 
methods in one order).

turbo wrote:

> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the 
> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking 
> with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and First 
> Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a 
> clue!!!!!!!!!! 


I've had the same problem with the site.  Last night I purchased a 
ticket I was using today through the normal trainline interface and that 
went through OK... but it's not liked either my debit or credit card on 
the Scotrail version.  Most infuriating.

turbo wrote:

> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the 
> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking 
> with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and First 
> Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a 
> clue!!!!!!!!!! 
> 
> 


Yep, two of us are travelling London to Walton on Naze tomorrow, using 
CDRs and a Gold Card. Originally I was going to order 2 x undiscounted 
CDRs to get the total over 40 (only saving 3 each) but then decided a 
free trip to Dover next week would be nice, so the following came to a 
total of 20.25:

2 x CDR with Gold Card London to Walton
1 x CDR with Gold Card London to Dover

Bargain! Many many thanks to the OP - I would never have known this 
offer was on!

Cheers,

Steve M

P.S Only downside is that I'll need to collect the tickets from Kings 
Cross then head over to Liverpool Street but this isn't a problem. 
Anyone know if the whizzy new machines at Victoria could ticket this 
transaction instead...?

turbo wrote:

> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the
> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc...
> Checking with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from
> them , and First Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or
> Indians who haven't got a clue!!!!!!!!!!


Yes, mine arrived in the post yesterday only two days after I bought them,
well pleased :-)
-- 
Pat

turbo wrote:

> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the
> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking
> with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and First
> Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a
> clue!!!!!!!!!!


I bought some tickets on Friday successfully but my card wasn't
recognised when I tried to book some more tickets today.  My friend
also failed to get his card to work today.

Has anyone successfully booked any tickets today?  Has anyone contacted
First Scotrail and found out what's going on?

Richard Adamfi wrote:

> 
> Has anyone successfully booked any tickets today?  Has anyone contacted
> First Scotrail and found out what's going on?
> 

I booked some successfully around 14:30 today.

Alan

A.C.P. Crawshaw wrote:

> >
> I booked some successfully around 14:30 today.
> 


Just tried it just now with 2 different cards and it didn't work.

"Richard Adamfi"  wrote in message 
news:1125409326.711784.18230@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

>
> turbo wrote:
>> Has anyone actually managed to buy tickets yet- I get as far as the
>> checkout, and then it refuses any credit card, debit card etc... Checking
>> with the bank no attempt was made to get the payment from them , and 
>> First
>> Scotrail is nothing but answering machines or Indians who haven't got a
>> clue!!!!!!!!!!
>
> I bought some tickets on Friday successfully but my card wasn't
> recognised when I tried to book some more tickets today.  My friend
> also failed to get his card to work today.
>
> Has anyone successfully booked any tickets today?  Has anyone contacted
> First Scotrail and found out what's going on?


Got mine in yesterday, thankfully.

It's overnight (with some hanging about at Chester and Birmingham) from 
Wigan to Lymington Pier via the Tunnel (Mersey).
Well, my mate is going to the IOW to collect a car ... Cost 29, so I said 
why don't we both go for.. Err..  29!

I used to think, I wasn't mad, but..........

KW

Richard Adamfi wrote:

> A.C.P. Crawshaw wrote:
> 
>>I booked some successfully around 14:30 today.
>>
> 
> 
> Just tried it just now with 2 different cards and it didn't work.
> 

I've just booked another set with no problems on a Mastercard.
Many thanks to Andy for posting the link. At 166 for wife, son (with YP 
railcard) and I to travel from Bangor to York on a Saver, we'd have gone by car. 
At 83 it's just about worth taking the train.

Alan

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005, Ken Ward  wrote:

>
>"Richard Adamfi"  wrote in message
>news:1125409326.711784.18230@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>> Has anyone successfully booked any tickets today?  Has anyone contacted
>> First Scotrail and found out what's going on?
>
>Got mine in yesterday, thankfully.


The site is consistently rejecting my credit card today (and the card 
issuer says that they're not declining any authorisations on it). Tried 
at 8.45, 10:30 and 15:00 with no luck. Have probably treble checked the 
card etc details.

I called their useless call centre, who don't understand the question 
"if you can't tell me when the site will be working, how do I get 
tickets at the discounted rate". Clearly helping the customer achieve 
what their technology is failing to do is not in the Indian-English 
phrase book.
-- 
Howard

Howard Fisher wrote:

>
> The site is consistently rejecting my credit card today (and the card
> issuer says that they're not declining any authorisations on it). Tried
> at 8.45, 10:30 and 15:00 with no luck. Have probably treble checked the
> card etc details.
>


Two of my work colleagues have managed to book discounted tickets
successfully today - and I witnessed it - yet I am still getting the
declining authorisations.  There is no use calling the call centre as
they want the reference number which only appears once the card has
been processed successfully.

I have tried to use several bank cards from different organisations so
I know it is nothing to do with bank authorisation.

Ken Ward wrote:


> I used to think I wasn't mad


Of all delusions, delusions of sanity are the most insidious. ;-)

-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p13857136.html
(20 023 at Reading Depot, 1 Jun 1985)

Is there ANY way of getting a "Rover" ticket from this 50% offer. I have 
tried but failed..  Help, only 3 hours to go!

KW

Ken Ward wrote:

> Is there ANY way of getting a "Rover" ticket from this 50% offer. I have 
> tried but failed..  Help, only 3 hours to go!


I doubt it.  You can't buy rovers through the trainline.

DERWENT Re: Half Price Train Tickets
 31 Aug 2005 09:03:58 -0700, "Richard Adamfi"
 


>
>Howard Fisher wrote:
>>
>> The site is consistently rejecting my credit card today (and the card
>> issuer says that they're not declining any authorisations on it). Tried
>> at 8.45, 10:30 and 15:00 with no luck. Have probably treble checked the
>> card etc details.
>>
>
>Two of my work colleagues have managed to book discounted tickets
>successfully today - and I witnessed it - yet I am still getting the
>declining authorisations.  There is no use calling the call centre as
>they want the reference number which only appears once the card has
>been processed successfully.
>


Try the ScotRail call centre 08457 550033 option 5. They were much
more helpful to me than the Trainline call centre.

PRAR
-- 
<http://www.i.am/prar/> and <http://prar.fotopic.net/>
As long as people will accept crap, it will be financially profitable to dispense it. --Dick Cavett
Please reply to the newsgroup. That is why it exists.
NB Anti-spam measures in force
 - If you must email me use the Reply to address and not prar@deadspam.com

Ken Ward wrote:

> Is there ANY way of getting a "Rover" ticket from this 50% offer. I have 
> tried but failed..  Help, only 3 hours to go!
> 
> KW
> 
> 


The offer did say Sept 1st inclusive, so you might have a while more...

I'd just like to say thanks to the original poster, I've (ahem) 'saved' 
loads of money this week...

N.I.B. wrote:

> The offer did say Sept 1st inclusive, so you might have a while more...


It did, but it appears they have closed it a day early!

I get "You have entered an incorrect promotion code. Please try again."

On Thu, 1 Sep 2005, Yorkie  wrote:

>N.I.B. wrote:
>> The offer did say Sept 1st inclusive, so you might have a while more...
>
>It did, but it appears they have closed it a day early!
>
>I get "You have entered an incorrect promotion code. Please try again."
>


Indeed so. I tried on 4 occasions yesterday without luck due to their 
websales subcontractor's failure. Called their telesales (which claims 
to be a different subcontractor) who could not help at all. Spoke to the 
Indian call centre who couldn't help. In all I probably wasted at least 
an hour going round in call centre circles. So I emailed their web 
support.

Reply came through this morning, saying "call the Telesales". I haven't 
bothered, but I'm seeing if their Scottish support team on 0845 601 5929 
can arrange to supply the tickets I've not been able to buy due to their 
subcontractors' failure. I'm promised a call back "as soon as possible".

Watch this space!
-- 
Howard

"Yorkie"  wrote in message 
news:1125559907.303907.109890@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> N.I.B. wrote:
>> The offer did say Sept 1st inclusive, so you might have a while more...
>
> It did, but it appears they have closed it a day early!
>
> I get "You have entered an incorrect promotion code. Please try again."
>

I have managed to book a ticket today with no problems

"N.I.B."  wrote in message 
news:l7qdnR28QLOmrYveRVnygw@pipex.net...

> Ken Ward wrote:
>> Is there ANY way of getting a "Rover" ticket from this 50% offer. I have 
>> tried but failed..  Help, only 3 hours to go!
>>
>> KW
>>
>>
>
> The offer did say Sept 1st inclusive, so you might have a while more...
>
> I'd just like to say thanks to the original poster, I've (ahem) 'saved' 
> loads of money this week...




I tried to book a trip last night at 22:00, all seem to go well until the 
end. No ref. number, No e-mail conformation.

At 23:00 I tried again. When I got to the payment stage it showed the 
original booking as well as the current one. I deleted the first (duplicate 
trip) booking and continued. I got as far as printing a sheet which said "we 
have successfully reserved seats for some or all of your journey for this 
booking". Giving details of all timings and prices but no reference number 
and again no e-mail!

The website is STILL working for bookings at 11:20 today.  Maybe I could 
have another go? 26 for a full day in London from Bolton for 2 people has 
got to be worth another attempt!

KW

On Thu, 1 Sep 2005, Ken Ward  wrote:

>The website is STILL working for bookings at 11:20 today.  Maybe I could
>have another go? 26 for a full day in London from Bolton for 2 people has
>got to be worth another attempt!


Or "not-working" again, in my case. At about 09:30 I went through the 
procedure and got to the basket but all at full price. Now, after 
reading the above, I tried again and bingo 50% discount on the 
remembered basket. Still declines my Mastercard authoriastion though 
when I actually try to pay. (And no one from ScotRail has called back 
yet.)
-- 
Howard

"Howard Fisher"  wrote in message 
news:8SZpQ9EHLuFDFAoF@locomotive.com...

> On Thu, 1 Sep 2005, Ken Ward  wrote:
>>The website is STILL working for bookings at 11:20 today.  Maybe I could
>>have another go? 26 for a full day in London from Bolton for 2 people has
>>got to be worth another attempt!
>
> Or "not-working" again, in my case. At about 09:30 I went through the 
> procedure and got to the basket but all at full price. Now, after reading 
> the above, I tried again and bingo 50% discount on the remembered basket. 
> Still declines my Mastercard authoriastion though when I actually try to 
> pay. (And no one from ScotRail has called back yet.)


A sort of, good news here, Howard,
            It still had my old session in the "basket" when I eventually 
got to it. I had to remove the "One-day Travelcard" before it would let me 
get past "Your total does not compute" or something similar screen. It also 
insisted on "Tickets by Post" as well but, I now have confirmation of a Day 
Out to the Smoke for 26.00 for 2 people, add to that a single Wigan to 
Lymington for 29:00 for 2 people.

Thanks again to the OP....

KW

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:28:01 GMT, "David Spencer"
 wrote:


>I have managed to book a ticket today with no problems 


And me.  YP SVR to Manchester for a few weekends' time, plus a
Travelcard for Saturday, total about 22 quid.  Nice.

I note that the OP with problems was using a Mastercard - perhaps
that's where the issue lies?

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:35:37 GMT, "Ken Ward" 
wrote:


>At 23:00 I tried again. When I got to the payment stage it showed the 
>original booking as well as the current one. I deleted the first (duplicate 
>trip) booking and continued. I got as far as printing a sheet which said "we 
>have successfully reserved seats for some or all of your journey for this 
>booking". Giving details of all timings and prices but no reference number 
>and again no e-mail!


Careful - that has probably gone through.  I'd check your card account
if you can.

For some reason I never receive e-mail confirmations from QJump
despite the e-mail address they have being perfectly valid.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 18:07:40 GMT, wensleydale@pacersplace.org.uk (Neil
Williams) wrote:

[...]

>
>For some reason I never receive e-mail confirmations from QJump
>despite the e-mail address they have being perfectly valid.
>

Could be your ISP is junking them on your behalf.  BT were doing this to my
account until I turned off their not very helpful Anti-Spam measures and
handled it myself.  Found lots of interesting mail that I hadn't received
in my online Junk email folder.
-- 
Tessy @ nospam.com
Life is complex: it has real and imaginary parts

Neil Williams wrote:



> For some reason I never receive e-mail confirmations from QJump
> despite the e-mail address they have being perfectly valid.

  /|  /|      _____________________
                    ||__||     |                     |
                   /   O O\__  |    PLEASE DO NOT    |
                  /          \ |   FEED THE TROLLS   |
                 /      \     \|_____________________|
                /   _    \     \      ||
               /    |\____\     \     ||
              /     | | | |\____/     ||
             /       \|_|_|/   |     _||
            /  /  \            |____| ||
           /   |   |           |      --|
           |   |   |           |____  --|
    * _    |  |_|_|_|          |     \-/
*-- _--\ _ \                  |      ||
   /  _     \\        |        /      `
*  /   \_ /- |       |       |
   *      ___ C_c_c_C/ \C_c_c_c____________

Neil Williams wrote:


> I note that the OP with problems was using a Mastercard - perhaps
> that's where the issue lies?


I successfully booked with a Visa Credit on Friday, but all subsequent
attempts failed.  Lots of cards tried and failed, including Visa Debit,
Mastercard and other Visa Credit cards from various banks.  I concluded
that it is nothing to do with the type of card.

"Neil Williams"  wrote in message 
news:43174378.544823@news.tesco.net...

> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:35:37 GMT, "Ken Ward" 
> wrote:
>
>>At 23:00 I tried again. When I got to the payment stage it showed the
>>original booking as well as the current one. I deleted the first 
>>(duplicate
>>trip) booking and continued. I got as far as printing a sheet which said 
>>"we
>>have successfully reserved seats for some or all of your journey for this
>>booking". Giving details of all timings and prices but no reference number
>>and again no e-mail!
>
> Careful - that has probably gone through.  I'd check your card account
> if you can.
>
> For some reason I never receive e-mail confirmations from QJump
> despite the e-mail address they have being perfectly valid.


When I tried again later (succesfully) it was still in the "Basket". I 
deleted it and continued with the current purchase.

Anyway... must dash   Off to Lymington Pier for the IOW.  Single from Wigan 
29 for 2 persons. BTW what is there to do on Chester station from Mid-Night 
until 03:00 ? Not a lot I suspect.

KW

On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 17:00:03 GMT, "Ken Ward" 
wrote:


>Anyway... must dash   Off to Lymington Pier for the IOW.  Single from Wigan 
>29 for 2 persons. BTW what is there to do on Chester station from Mid-Night 
>until 03:00 ? Not a lot I suspect.


On the station I doubt there's really anything, though you may find a
late night drinking establishment open if you head into town (it's
quite a long walk though).

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

On Fri, 2 Sep 2005, Ken Ward wrote:


> 29 for 2 persons. BTW what is there to do on Chester station from 
> Mid-Night until 03:00 ? Not a lot I suspect.


Is the station even open during that period?  I've no idea, and
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/index.html?a=findStation&station_query=CTR
seems less than entirely informative on the matter, despite all the 
other amazing detail that it offers (do the general public *really*
need to know "Ticket machine types: Scheidt Bachmann, Tribute"?).

It's not unknown for stations that have a connection at some 
"unearthly hour" to be closed except for a short period before and 
after the train in question.

Anyway, it says there's no waiting room ("There are seats and benches 
sited at various locations on the station.")

We see that those with a short-range bladder may need to know that 
it's a long time between 22:00 (when all toilet facilities close, 
apparently) and 07:00 (when they're due to open again).  Oops.  

You'll be comforted to know that BTP hours are 08:00-22:00 Mon-Sat.

Hmmm, apropos another running thread, it says:

  Parking Charges: 2.50 per 24 Hrs if travelling on the train. 
                   4.00 per 24Hrs if not.

all the best

On Fri, 2 Sep 2005 19:33:54 +0100, "Alan J. Flavell"
 wrote:


>We see that those with a short-range bladder may need to know that 
>it's a long time between 22:00 (when all toilet facilities close, 
>apparently) and 07:00 (when they're due to open again).  Oops.  


It also says that there are 24hr toilets on platforms 4 and 7a (on the
same island).

Notably, from Milton Keynes Central:-
Customer Service	Not yet supplied

Now, what can we read into that? :)

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

On Fri, 2 Sep 2005, Neil Williams wrote:


> >it's a long time between 22:00 (when all toilet facilities close, 
> >apparently) and 07:00 (when they're due to open again).  Oops.  
> 
> It also says that there are 24hr toilets on platforms 4 and 7a


My apologies: I was reading too superficially (or lost in the detail, 
whichever explanation you prefer).


> Notably, from Milton Keynes Central:-
> Customer Service	Not yet supplied
> 
> Now, what can we read into that? :)


Most of them say that!  In fact, most of the smaller stations have a 
long and tedious list saying either "No" or "Not yet supplied" to 
practically everything.  (Occasionally even: "Monday-Sunday: Closed", 
which is an elegant variation on "No", don't you think?).

My childhood station, I note, now offers the following strange 
selection:

Men's Toilets            No
Women's Toilets          Not yet supplied
Women's Toilets - Note   no

When I was a lad, we at least had a wall with a gutter, to pee 
against, and a screening wall for modesty (and open to the sky for 
fresh air!).  I think that in the waiting room (now demolished) there 
was also access to a Ladies'.  Progress?  Hmmm.

"Neil Williams"  wrote in message 
news:43195718.283998@news.tesco.net...

> On Fri, 2 Sep 2005 21:33:25 +0100, "Alan J. Flavell"
>  wrote:
>
>>My apologies: I was reading too superficially (or lost in the detail,
>>whichever explanation you prefer).
>
> The latter, probably - it is very raw data!  I wouldn't rely on it,
> either, seeing as it is so inconsistent.
>
>> (Occasionally even: "Monday-Sunday: Closed",
>>which is an elegant variation on "No", don't you think?).
>
> Says that for "Porter service" on all stations.  Thing is, I didn't
> think there was porter service on any UK station.  That being the
> case, why's the field there?
>


There is at Kings Cross.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/index.html?a=findStation&station_query=kgx

but not at Euston, or Paddington, Waterloo, or Victoria

ISTR that there *was* a paid for Porterage service at the larger London 
Stations, similar to the Red Caps at Airports. Does this not exist any more?

On Sat, 03 Sep 2005 08:37:05 GMT, "Not Here"
 wrote:


>There is at Kings Cross.
>http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/index.html?a=findStation&station_query=kgx


Interesting.  If anyone provided such a "traditional" thing, I guessed
it'd have been GNER - but is it really a porter service or just
disabled assistance etc?


>but not at Euston, or Paddington, Waterloo, or Victoria
>
>ISTR that there *was* a paid for Porterage service at the larger London 
>Stations, similar to the Red Caps at Airports. Does this not exist any more? 


Nope.

DB still have them at some stations, but you tend to see them pushing
their trolleys around (with charges shown clearly) with nothing on
them rather than in use...

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Neil Williams"  wrote in message 
news:431890f9.977585@news.tesco.net...

> On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 17:00:03 GMT, "Ken Ward" 
> wrote:
>
>>Anyway... must dash   Off to Lymington Pier for the IOW.  Single from 
>>Wigan
>>29 for 2 persons. BTW what is there to do on Chester station from 
>>Mid-Night
>>until 03:00 ? Not a lot I suspect.
>
> On the station I doubt there's really anything, though you may find a
> late night drinking establishment open if you head into town (it's
> quite a long walk though).


Well, not a lot to do so, a walk round the City took about a hour. On return 
there were more trains in that station than there would have been on a 
summer Saturday in the 1960's.
Four bays had 142 and 15x  units in, 3 through roads also contained a 
mixture of 158 and 156's. When my Voyager arrived (10 min's early) it had to 
stop at the west end of platform 3 and switching to the through route on 
leaving to avoid a stabled 158 at the east end. Oh I forgot, it seemed like 
every 175 was there for servicing at the alstom depot.

It was a shame that I had to vacate my reserved seat in coach C at 
Birmingham, just to wait for the same train to become the Bournemouth 
service which I then got back in coach C for my different reserved seat.

The trip finished with 10 min's on the "slam door" stock to Lymington Pier.

Return?... in a Ford Escort Cabriolet, top down all the way 250 (ish) miles. 
Nearly as good as a Voyager!

KW

"Alan J. Flavell"  wrote in message 
news:Pine.LNX.4.62.0509021915370.9224@ppepc56.ph.gla.ac.uk...

> On Fri, 2 Sep 2005, Ken Ward wrote:
>
>> 29 for 2 persons. BTW what is there to do on Chester station from
>> Mid-Night until 03:00 ? Not a lot I suspect.
>
> Is the station even open during that period?  I've no idea,


The doors were damaged and removed a few weeks ago, I was told.


> Anyway, it says there's no waiting room ("There are seats and benches
> sited at various locations on the station.")


The seating (some with Tables) was more than adequate.

The ATW night staff were very accomodating. My vote for best station staff 
2005.

KW

On Fri, 2 Sep 2005, Richard Adamfi  
wrote:

>
>Neil Williams wrote:
>
>> I note that the OP with problems was using a Mastercard - perhaps
>> that's where the issue lies?
>
>I successfully booked with a Visa Credit on Friday, but all subsequent
>attempts failed.  Lots of cards tried and failed, including Visa Debit,
>Mastercard and other Visa Credit cards from various banks.  I concluded
>that it is nothing to do with the type of card.
>

I failed completely to book with trainline over the web (or more 
correctly, the trainline's broken website consistently failed to 
authorise my credit card) and in the end managed to get hold of someone 
capable of sorting out the mess at scotrail. He took the details and 
issued the tickets by hand at the 50% discount the day after the offer 
finished. Net saving 234 buying GNER open returns valid over the next 
few months :-)

Ironically, the transactions were all done as I travelled from London to 
Inverness free of charge as the compensation GNER were eventually 
willing to give after the "Lancaster routing incident" earlier this 
year. (Of course GNER preferred not to call it compensation, and as it 
was all on their trains it cost them nothing.)
-- 
Howard

"Howard Fisher"  wrote in message 
news:txLd4ZCGzcHDFAYI@locomotive.com...

> On Fri, 2 Sep 2005, Richard Adamfi  wrote:
>>
>>Neil Williams wrote:
>>
>>> I note that the OP with problems was using a Mastercard - perhaps
>>> that's where the issue lies?
>>
>>I successfully booked with a Visa Credit on Friday, but all subsequent
>>attempts failed.  Lots of cards tried and failed, including Visa Debit,
>>Mastercard and other Visa Credit cards from various banks.  I concluded
>>that it is nothing to do with the type of card.
>>
> I failed completely to book with trainline over the web (or more 
> correctly, the trainline's broken website consistently failed to authorise 
> my credit card) and in the end managed to get hold of someone capable of 
> sorting out the mess at scotrail. He took the details and issued the 
> tickets by hand at the 50% discount the day after the offer finished. Net 
> saving 234 buying GNER open returns valid over the next few months :-)
>
> Ironically, the transactions were all done as I travelled from London to 
> Inverness free of charge as the compensation GNER were eventually willing 
> to give after the "Lancaster routing incident" earlier this year. (Of 
> course GNER preferred not to call it compensation, and as it was all on 
> their trains it cost them nothing.)



Nice...... When a plan comes together.

KW

thanks
pat

-- 
Zone Train Belge
Maes Patrick
http://users.skynet.be/zonetrainbelge/

The tickets that I ordered on the 1st. September from FirstScotRail arrived
by Post today. Date of travel is Sept 24th.

Thank you FSRail.

KW